The persuasive essay has had the power to intimidate many a student. By following a few guidelines, however, it can easily be demystified. Eventually, you may even come to take comfort in the almost mathematical simplicity of its structure.
First, let’s be clear on the purpose of a persuasive essay.
Your goal is to take a stand on a particular topic. For example: Should teenagers be allowed to have Facebook accounts? You will argue one side of the topic, either for or against. You will then build a case with concrete examples to back up why you feel that way and try to convince others of your opinion. You’ll also acknowledge and discuss the counterargument to your thesis. And eventually conclude with a final paragraph.
The persuasive essay is generally written in 5 paragraph form:
- First paragraph-introduces the topic and includes the thesis statement
- Second & third paragraphs – provide key points with evidence and research that support your thesis statement
- Fourth paragraph – presents the counterargument to your thesis
- Fifth paragraph – concludes by restating the thesis, reviewing the key points and offering suggestions for next steps on the topic
First Paragraph: Thesis Statement
This is where you introduce the reader to the topic at hand by briefly explaining the context of your argument. Many students find it difficult to get started. Consider using one of the following techniques to start your essay:
- Use a quote: Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook said “Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life.”
- Tell a funny story: While having dinner at a new friend’s house the other night, I was surprised to learn that his parents don’t allow him to have a Facebook account.
- State a statistic: Over 73% of American teenagers use Facebook.
- Pose a question: What would it mean to your social life if your parents banned you from using Facebook?
The last sentence of the first paragraph should be your thesis statement. The thesis statement is the most important part of the entire essay. It’s essential for your thesis statement to be clearly worded. This isn’t just to help the reader, it also helps you. The clearer you are on your own thesis, the easier it will be for you to look for evidence to support it.
An example of a clearly worded thesis statement: “Teenagers should be allowed to have Facebook accounts”.
It’s clear, concise, and leaves no doubt as to your position on the topic.
Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs are the meaty part of your essay, the part that provides structure and substance to your argument. In order to be convincing, you need good research to back you up.
What is a “good research”:
- Consider the source: use sources that come from experts on the topic from reputable organizations, universities or periodicals (Don’t use Wiki).
- Stay evergreen: the research is current, not outdated. The more up-to-date the research, the better.
- Relevance: the research directly responds to the topic you’re writing about.
Once you’ve done your research and collected enough evidence, you need to choose some key points to present in your two paragraphs of supporting evidence. Give examples, state facts, quote experts and use statistics. But be careful not to overwhelm the reader with too much information. Choose the strongest pieces of evidence and present them clearly.
The counterargument is an important part of the persuasive essay. Persuasive essays are usually written on topics that are polemical. Therefore, the counterargument can’t be ignored. It must be stated and addressed. For example: While many parents worry that allowing their children access to Facebook may put them at risk for bullying or even online predators, with proper coaching and monitoring, the child can enjoy the benefits of being socially connected to their peers and family members.
Conclusion
The conclusion can sometimes be as difficult to write as the opening paragraph. Basically, the concluding paragraph should:
- Restate the thesis statement.
- Summarize the key points discussed in the supporting paragraphs.
- Go one step further in making a suggestion of next steps – suggest ways to solve the problem or ask questions that need to be answered in order to resolve the issue.
It’s not appropriate to introduce new evidence in the conclusion. All evidence should be presented in the body paragraphs. The conclusion is the opportunity to reaffirm your position and authority on the topic.
Checklist
After you’ve finished your first draft, go back and make sure you’ve completed this checklist:
- Clear, well-defined thesis statement.
- Body paragraphs that provide valid and relevant research and evidence.
- Counterargument has been discussed.
- Conclusion restates the thesis, reviews key points and offers suggestions for next steps.
Further Reading
For some examples of thought-provoking persuasive essay prompts, try this link from the New York Times: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/200-prompts-for-argumentative-writing/.